9. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)

What we were hoping for: A smooth-jiving acrobatic upstart jumping, stabbing and manipulating the forces of time itself to get exactly what he wants. It’s a powerful action metaphor for the conflicted modern man.

What we got: We had high hopes for Hollywood’s most recent venture into the troubled woods of game-to-movie debacles, but those hopes were first lowered, and then completely dashed, as the supposedly Persian Prince delivered British-accented line after hammy line. Tellingly, director Mike Newell’s assistant played the games and then told him all about them right before shooting commenced. Air-tight preproduction there, boys.